Brandon Belt eyes his first-inning homer, the Giants' first three-run shot since June 13.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

Brandon Belt eyes his first-inning homer, the Giants' first...

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Tim Lincecum had his third straight good start, giving up one hit while striking out eight in eight shutout innings.

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Tim Lincecum had his third straight good start, giving up one hit...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated by teammates after Belt hit a three-run homer in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Donovan Hand #48 of the Miwaukee Brewers pitches against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Donovan Hand #48 of the Miwaukee...

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San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt, right, is congratulated by third base coach Tim Flannery (1) after hitting a three-run home run off of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Donovan Hand during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt, right, is congratulated by...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Jonathan Lucroy #20 of the Milwaukee Brewers catches a pop-up of a sacrifice bunt attempt from Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants in the six inning at AT&T Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Lucroy threw to first base on the play to double up Gregor Blanco #7. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Jonathan Lucroy #20 of the...

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo, left, and first baseman Brandon Belt, center, and pitcher Javier Lopez (49) celebrate after they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. The Giants won 4-1. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo, left, and first baseman...

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Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez (27) reacts after striking out against San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. The Giants won 4-1. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez (27) reacts after striking out...

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum throws against the...

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) hugs Tony Abreu in the dugout eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. The Giants won 4-1. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) hugs Tony Abreu in...

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San Francisco Giants outfielders Roger Kieschnick, from left, Gregor Blanco, and Hunter Pence celebrate after the last out of the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. The Giants won 4-1. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants outfielders Roger Kieschnick, from left,...

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Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez (27) reacts after striking out against San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo for the last out of the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. The Giants won 4-1. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez (27) reacts after striking out...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Carlos Gomez #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers loses his helmet while striking out in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Carlos Gomez #27 of the Milwaukee...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Gregor Blanco #7 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after he was doubled off of first base on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt from Tim Lincecum #55 in the six inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Gregor Blanco #7 of the San...

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San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence catches a fly ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers' Yuniesky Betancourt during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence catches a fly ball...

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San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) singles to score Marco Scutaro during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) singles to score Marco...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Hunter Pence #8 of the San Francisco Giants is caught in a rundown and tagged out by first baseman Juan Francisco #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at AT&T Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Hunter Pence #8 of the San...

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San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt (9) hits a three-run home run off of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Donovan Hand during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt (9) hits a three-run home run...

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 08: Brandon Crawford #35 of the San Francisco Giants dives into second base with a double beating the throw to Jeff Bianchi #14 of the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park on August 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The pregame mood was noticeably brighter Thursday. Mike Murphy had Sinatra crooning through the clubhouse sound system. More players were in the big room, not in the private lounge or dining room, chirping and chattering in small groups.

The Giants were acting like the winning team they were three months ago, and still can be before this lost season ends if they heed manager Bruce Bochy's words and "play good baseball, play for each other and the fans, honor the game and give all you have."

Then they took it to the field at AT&T Park and beat the Brewers 4-1 to split the four-game series.

Tim Lincecum evoked Cy Young memories in an eight-inning gem, holding the Brewers to no runs on one hit, a Juan Francisco double in the third inning. Lincecum won for the first time since the July 13 no-hitter, but his one-walk, eight-strikeout performance was his third strong showing in a row.

Brandon Belt batted cleanup and hit a drought-busting three-run homer in the first inning, and Marco Scutaro and Brandon Crawford combined for six hits in the top two spots in the lineup.

Just as significant, the Giants played clean, inspired baseball after Bochy called a pregame meeting in the wake of Madison Bumgarner's acknowledgment Wednesday that on some days, the team mentally seems checked out.

"We need to wake up and come to the field every day knowing there's a purpose," Lincecum said. "Even if where we're sitting in the standings might affect our mentality, we can't show that on the field. We've got to play every game with passion and know we're out there for a reason and play nine innings.

"It's just one of those things that needs to be reiterated. You kind of bring it up in that manner and see what's at stake. It's not just coming here going through the motions."

Now, they have to do it again, and again, and again, starting with a three-game series against a better team this weekend. Ryan Vogelsong returns from the disabled list Friday night in the first of three against the Orioles.

Before the game, Bochy acknowledged that with the Giants' recent run of good years, many of the core players have not experienced losing to this degree and not reacted properly.

"That's a great point," Bochy said. "We're getting tested. You hope we get stronger and this should be a learning experience. This game is easy when everything is going well, you're hitting, winning and playing great defense. When you haven't crossed to the other side of it, you're not accustomed to it. These are uncharted waters, how to deal with it.

"It goes back to mental toughness of dealing with adversity. To be honest with you, we haven't handled it very well."

The task became easier Thursday when the Giants took a 3-0 first-inning lead. Scutaro, hitless in nine at-bats in leadoff, made Donovan Hand throw 10 pitches and singled. Crawford then doubled.

With one out, Belt pulled an inside fastball into the Arcade for his 12th homer and the Giants' first at home after a drought of 11 games and 101 innings. With Lincecum pitching shutdown baseball, the rest of it was cake as long as the Giants played with concentration.

And they did.

"It kind of reminds us what we're capable of," Belt said. "A lot of stuff gets lost in the mess when you're not playing well. It was nice to put some runs on the board and let Timmy cruise."